The Righteousness Of God

(Romans 1:16-17) "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, The righteous shall live by faith."  (ESV)


Paul emphatically states that he is not ashamed of the gospel.  Unfortunately many Christians today seem to be ashamed of the gospel.  They are intimidated by the secular culture often being called intolerant or narrow minded.  But the gospel is the truth even in our postmodern culture that says there is no truth.  

The gospel is the power of God for salvation. People are saved when they hear and believe the gospel.  Salvation does not come through hearing someone's testimony or by persuasive speech or by any other means.  It is through the gospel, the Word of God that people receive salvation.  

In this gospel the righteousness of God is revealed.  The primary meaning of the phrase is in the sense of the righteousness from God.  It is the basis for our justification. Christians are declared righteous and not guilty.  The perfect righteousness of Christ is imputed or credited to believers.  We must have the righteousness of Christ because none of us are truly righteous.  When God looks upon the believer he sees Christ and his perfect righteousness.  The righteousness of God also refers to his holiness and justice. But it primarily refers to the righteousness of Christ (Philippians 3:9, 2 Corinthians 5:21).  

The righteous shall live by faith.  The righteous are those who have the righteousness of Christ.  Salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone.  Those who place their faith in Jesus receive eternal life.